I’m generally a fan of positive self-talk, but lately, I’ve been putting myself in time out. Go to the patio, young lady, and don’t come back until you’ve put your feet up, sipped your tea, and smelled some flowers! And don’t talk back! I’ve found that even 5 or 10 minutes of this kind of intentional relaxation changes how I move about the rest of my day.

While one could feasibly relax without a special drink, nothing says intentional relaxation like a carefully concocted iced tea sparkler. This drink says simple with a side of “that’s right monkeys, I’m relaxing!” This is not the drink you grab as you run out the door, arms full of the whose-its and whats-its you need to complete your tasks of the day. It starts with crushed mint and squeezed lime, like the beginnings of a mojito. In goes the iced tea and fizzy water, and sweetener as you like it.

I have a hunch that simplicity might not have to be so complicated after all!

I’d love to know your personal equation for relaxation! Please share yours, and any other tips for “simplici-tea” and learning how to “just be” in the comments below.

Place the lime halves and mint leaves in the bottom of a large pitcher. Using a muddler or a wooden spoon, crush and smash the limes and mint to release the juice. Add the hibiscus tea, ice, club soda, and sweetener. Adjust proportions of ingredients to suit your taste. Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate. The tea will keep its bubbliness for about 3 days.